Is a product without a halal certificate not halal?

Answer

According to the Halal Accreditation Agency, no such conclusion should be drawn. In Islamic jurisprudence halal means what is not forbidden, what is permitted and what complies with the rules, and the definition also covers a product's compliance with health and cleanliness criteria (tayyib). Certification carried out by bodies accredited by HAK covers not only compliance with Islamic rules but also the requirements of internationally recognised food safety and hygiene standards. By contrast, the only thing that can be said about a product without a certificate is that it has not been certified; it does not follow that the product is not halal. Where you are unsure, reading the ingredient list and, if necessary, asking the manufacturer is a sounder approach than inferring a ruling from the absence of a certificate.